South Cook News

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 in Illinois. The request was made by South Cook News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The FOIA request sought information about the number of non-U.S. citizens, referred to as "migrants" in the request, currently enrolled in the school district. As a news organization, South Cook News stated that access to public records is essential for them to fulfill their professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In addition to this specific request, South Cook News also expressed their belief that they are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and the state average Administrative Salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

This data raises questions about how resources are allocated within schools and how this impacts students from different backgrounds. With this new FOIA request from South Cook News regarding enrollment numbers of non-U.S. citizens in Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124, it will be interesting to see what further insights can be gleaned about educational equity within this district and across Illinois as a whole.